The Suzuki GS750, revisited

In the mid-70s, Suzuki was reeling from the disastrous RE5 rotary episode, and bet the house on a new 4-stroke inline four. The GS750 was an immediate hit with journalists and riders alike: “The quickest and best-handling 750 on the market,” raved Cycle World.

So why don’t we see more of them on the custom scene?

Lukas and Sylwester of Poland’s Eastern Spirit Garage are fans. “We think it’s a very underrated model,” they told us. “We hope this build will change the view within the café racer scene.”

They started from the back. After stripping the 1977-spec donor down to its core components, they grafted on a new subframe and tail unit, which sits just perfectly above the rear wheel.

The seat came next, flowing neatly into the stock tank—which shows that Suzuki’s designers got the proportions just right some 40 years ago.

Up front is the headlight from an old Polish motorcycle, restored and modified to hide the ignition system and a compact analog speedo.

To get the stance of the GS750 just right, Eastern Spirit have shortened the front suspension a notch. A new exhaust system adds to the visual ‘bulk’ and aggressiveness—it’s a 4-into-1 setup from the larger Suzuki GS850.

The GS750 engine is a gem—smooth and reliable—so this one was simply overhauled and fitted with new piston rings and a fresh timing chain. Nearly everything else went off to the powder coater—from the frame to the wheels and the swing arm. The deep, glossy black looks sublime.

The final touch was an upgrade to the braking system, which is a mix of later-model GS750 parts and the rear system from a GSX, connected with steel braided hoses.

It’s a sharp looking alternative to a Honda CB750 custom—and dynamically superior. If Eastern Spirit’s fine work throws the spotlight back onto the GS750, that’s no bad thing.